Bridge Housing has partnered with leading Sydney property developer Payce Consolidated and Women’s Community Shelters in a unique “Pathways Home” venture to house women experiencing homelessness in properties earmarked for redevelopment.

Payce has plans for a $100 million urban renewal project in north western Sydney that will ultimately provide 5,000 new apartments for families in the region. In the interim, five existing homes have been made available to Bridge Housing and Women’s Community Shelters to house women and their children escaping family violence.

Bridge Housing CEO John Nicolades said: "As specialists in housing people on moderate-to-low incomes in Sydney, Bridge Housing is always seeking opportunities to create more safe, affordable housing, so we were delighted to work with Payce and Women’s Community Shelters to make this project happen.”

“While transitional housing is only ever intended as a temporary solution, it will put a secure roof over the heads of women and their children while they get their lives back on track. It also uses underutilised properties in a city with a severe housing shortage, at no cost to government.”

"We hope our project is the start of a broader trend of not-for-profit organisations working in partnership with the property development industry to find innovative solutions to our common supply and affordability issues.”

The initiative was launched on 21 November by the Minister for Family and Community Services, the Hon. Pru Goward MP.

Pathways Home was mentioned as an innovation in partnerships to support women experiencing domestic violence in a keynote address by Heather Nancarow from ACROWS at the National Housing Conference in late November.